Lisa Johnson has returned to her Northwest roots as the head golf coach at the University of Idaho in the fall of 2007 and picked up where her predecessor left on in continuing to improve Vandal women’s golf and put it on the national map.

She’s done exactly that with 2012 graduate Kayla Mortellaro earning her LPGA card for the 2013 professional season. While at Idaho, Mortellaro became the winningest player in school history and was a three-time recipient of Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors along with Freshman of the Year recognition during her first collegiate season.

After taking a program that won the 2007 Western Athletic Conference title, she guided the women to an historic three-victory season in 2009-10 and a berth in their second NCAA regional competition. That, she says, is just a step along the way in the program achieving its ultimate goal.

Director of athletics Rob Spear said Johnson was a natural choice when she selected to take over the program.

“Lisa not only is a quality golf coach but a quality individual whose goals mirror that of the athletic department – to produce premier programs,” he said.

Johnson was a relative late-comer to golf – and took up the game at the suggestion of her high school swim coach.

“It was his nice way of telling me, ‘You work hard and you’re a good swimmer, but …,’ ” Johnson said with a laugh.

She continues the hard work at Idaho as a driving force behind upgrades for the program in the form of renovated lockerrooms, an indoor practice area and an enhancing short-game facility.

Johnson earned her master’s degree at the University of Idaho after graduating cum laude at Gonzaga University in 2000. While at Gonzaga, Johnson was chosen the Bulldog Female Student-Athlete of the Year, was a West Coast Conference all-conference selection, a WCC all-academic honoree, and the winner of three individual tournaments. She also was the president of SAAC and a member of the Athletics Council. Prior to returning to Idaho, Johnson spent 5½ years at Boise State.

She was married in February 2008 to John Johnson, senior associate athletic director at neighboring Washington State University. The couple has twin children – Ellie and Cooper.